Over this period, CHDI may fund up to 75 full-time scientists at Evotec.
The collaboration was initiated in 2006 and has grown considerably over this period to fully utilise Evotec’s best-in-class integrated neuroscience platform.
The extension of this collaboration is a further validation of Evotec’s investment in new technologies and capabilities in support of driving innovative drug discovery collaborations.
Evotec provides CHDI with a full range of research activities and expertise in the neuroscience area, including integrated biology and chemistry supported by compound and library management, target validation, stem cell research, high-content screening, computational chemistry, in vitro pharmacokinetics, proteomics and protein production.
Evotec COO Dr Mario Polywka said: “We are delighted to sign this five-year extension with CHDI. Both parties have developed a tremendous relationship based on progressing excellent science to develop effective treatments for Huntington’s disease. We are proud to be part of this global initiative led by the great team at CHDI.”
CHDI Management president Robi Blumenstein said: “Over the next five years, we look forward to continuing this collaboration with an important strategic partner in our drive to develop therapeutics that substantially improve the lives of Huntington’s disease families.”
Huntington’s disease is a familial disease caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene. Each child of a parent with the mutation in the huntingtin gene has a 50-50 chance of inheriting the mutation.
As a result of carrying the mutation, an individual’s brain cells fail and die leading to cognitive and physical impairments that, over the course of the disease, significantly impair the individual’s quality of life and ultimately cause death.
Symptoms of Huntington’s disease, which generally develop in midlife and become progressively more debilitating as time passes, can also develop in infancy or old age. Once overt symptoms start, patients live for about 15 to 20 years.
There is currently no way to delay the onset of symptoms or slow the progression of Huntington’s disease. It is estimated that the disorder affects about 30,000 people in the United States and at least 150,000 others have a 50% risk of developing Huntington’s disease at some point.
Source: Company Press Release.